Drink-drive facts

Further to your editorial relating to the Scottish Government’s intention to lower the drink drive limit from 80 to 50 mg/ml (1 December), I wrote to finance secretary John Swinney’s department several months ago requesting statistics of deaths in the most recent 12-month period where one or other motorist was found to be between the two limits and responsible for the accident.

The reply, which came eventually, stated that the government expected a reduction of 17 deaths per year with the introduction of the lower limit, but had no statistics to back up the assertion, which meant it was only an educated guess.

Proposed legislation should be based on facts and not supposition. I would accept the proposals if there is compelling evidence showing a significant reduction in deaths from the change, otherwise they should leave things as they are and concentrate on the large number of drivers who completely ignore the current limit.